Xue Wu, the vice-captain, had a calm demeanor. "Bing'er, his curse seems to affect a person's mental will as well. The part where Huo Wu started singing was too abnormal; it didn't seem like simple interference. Can our control abilities interrupt him before his curse takes effect?"
Shui Bing'er's delicate brows furrowed slightly, a thoughtful look flickering in her clear, cold eyes. "His curse activates extremely fast, almost instantly. Our freezing control takes time to cast. Perhaps… we need to anticipate his move before he makes it? Or maybe use a water curtain or ice wall to create an isolation layer?" she said slowly. "More importantly, how do we deal with Ning Rongrong's full-power amplification? Shrek's overall strength becomes terrifying after she uses her abilities."
The girls of Tianshui Academy fell into deep thought. Their upcoming duel was filled with an unprecedented level of pressure.
Meanwhile, in the Shrek Academy resting area, the atmosphere was not as lively as one would expect after a victory.
Ma Hongjun patted his chest, still shaken. "Good heavens, Yin Ge, your 'help' was a bit too fierce… That girl Huo Wu almost blew up her own team."
Ning Rongrong sighed softly. "Those two support members from Blazing Fire Academy are seriously injured. Jiang Zhu said they'll need at least a month to recover… Blazing Academy probably won't be able to continue in the tournament."
Ye Yin sat on a chair, his usual gentle smile having faded. He was quiet and contemplative. He truly hadn't expected that his Soul Skill Blessing, even with its reduced damage, would combine with Huo Wu's own spirit power backlash and the curse's effects to cause such severe consequences. Seeing the tragic scene on the arena, especially the desperate and pained look in Huo Wu's eyes before she collapsed, he felt a clear sense of discomfort and guilt arise in his heart for the first time. Although he didn't regret using his abilities to win, causing such serious collateral damage was never his intention.
"I'll go take a look," Ye Yin said as he stood up. His tone was calm, but his eyes held a rare hint of seriousness.
The atmosphere in Blazing Academy's temporary medical station was as oppressive as the calm before a storm. The air was thick with the strong smell of medicine and a lingering burnt odor. Huo Wushuang stood by Huo Wu's bedside, his face ashen. His sister lay there, pale and breathing weakly, with visible burn marks still on her neck. The sight of her in such a tragic state tore at his heart.
When Ye Yin's figure appeared in the doorway, the entire room erupted.
"Get out! How dare you come here?!" a Blazing Fire team member with red eyes shouted, starting to rush forward before being held back by his companion.
"Ye Yin! You despicable villain!" Huo Wushuang roared, spinning around like an enraged lion. He unleashed the full pressure of his spirit power without reservation. "Haven't you harmed my sister enough?! Did you come here to gloat?!" If not for the fact that they were in a medical area, he likely would have attacked on the spot. The other team members glared furiously, their eyes filled with hatred.
Ye Yin calmly endured their gazes and the immense pressure, bowing slightly. "I apologize. I didn't come to gloat. I came to check on Miss Huo Wu's injuries and to express my apologies."
"Apology?! What good is an apology?!" Huo Wushuang's voice was hoarse with anger. "My sister was almost killed by you! Her Spirit might even be permanently affected! Your malicious curse made her a fool in front of everyone, and now you think a simple apology can brush it all away?! Get out! Get out right now, or don't blame me for what happens next!"
Blazing spirit power surged around Huo Wushuang, and the temperature in the room rose rapidly.
Ye Yin stood his ground. "I'd like to state a few points," he said calmly. "First, it wasn't my intention to make her look foolish. That was an effect of my Spirit Ability, and it's not something I can control. Second, if your sister's ability hadn't gone out of control, then I would be the one lying in a bed right now. And I'd much rather it be her than me. Third, this is a Spirit fighting competition. Anything can happen. I am concerned for Huo Wu and your teammates, but that doesn't mean I was wrong to fight to win. If you're afraid of getting injured, then you shouldn't step into the arena. If I were the one lying in that bed today, what would you all be saying?"
He paused for a moment before continuing. "Fourth, if it weren't for my second Spirit Ability weakening the damage of your sister's attack and turning it into an area-of-effect, she wouldn't be lying in that bed right now. She'd be in a coffin."
"You!" Huo Wushuang gritted his teeth, nearly choking on his anger.
[Resentment from Huo Wushuang +99!]
Ye Yin said nothing more and simply took an ancient jade box from his storage spirit tool. As he opened it, a strange, clear fragrance instantly filled the air, overpowering the smell of medicine. The scent seemed to carry a power that cleansed the soul, invigorating everyone in the room. Inside the box lay a fruit the size of a baby's fist, crystal clear like jade and glowing with a seven-colored radiance.
"This is a Soul Cleansing Fruit," Ye Yin's voice was still calm but sincere. "It doesn't do much for healing physical injuries, but it is a great help for improving one's Spirit. This is my gift to Huo Wu."
He gently placed the jade box on a nearby table.
"Take your stuff and go! We don't need your false compassion!" Huo Wushuang retorted angrily, refusing to believe that Ye Yin would be so kind.
"Believe it or not, that's up to you," Ye Yin said indifferently. "The item has been delivered. If you don't want it, you can feed it to a dog."
Despite his anger, Huo Wushuang couldn't resist looking at the Soul Cleansing Fruit. Its fragrance was having a powerful effect on him, making him want to eat it himself. It was a strong, primal attraction from his own Spirit that was difficult to refuse.
This is good stuff! he thought. Incredibly good stuff!
He resisted the urge to swallow it and instead took the fruit to Huo Wu's bedside.
A few hours later, Huo Wu slowly woke up. The burning pain in her throat was gone, and the chaotic spirit power within her body had become much smoother, even feeling purer and more condensed than before. She opened her eyes in a daze and saw her brother's incredibly complex expression.
"Brother… I…" she tried to speak. Her voice was still a bit hoarse, but it was no longer the terrible croaking sound from before.
"Little sister, how do you feel?" Huo Wushuang asked quickly, his tone full of concern.
Huo Wu took a moment to feel her body. "Much better… My spirit power seems… purer? What happened?"
Huo Wushuang was silent for a moment, then pointed to the open jade box on the table. "It was… Ye Yin," he said with difficulty. "He sent it. He said… it was to express his apology. The thing is called a Soul Cleansing Fruit."
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